mellor



A'. m-:LLom MACHINERY FR DRESSING SILK, FLAX, &c.

- (A'ppxicatimi med' my 15, 189s.) (No Mndql.) 3 Sheets-Sheet l.

1H: cams vcransco, morduma. wnsmucmm. u. c.

. Patented Feb.' 7, |399. A. M ELLon. V MACHINERY IjUR DRESSINGA SILK, FLAX, 6m.

(Applicaeion med .my 15, 189s.)

v3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

'um Modem'.

TH: Nonms PETERS co, PHQYuUTHD.. WASHINGTON. n. c.

No. 6|8,99|. Patented Feb. 7,; |899;

A. MELLOR. vwmcmm'alw Fon DRESSING SILK, FLAx,'&c.

(Application mea my 15, 199s.) {No Model.) 3vSheeis-Sheet 3.

cToN, n. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ARTHUR MELLOR, OF MACOLES'FIELD, ENGLAND.

`IvIAcI-III\II5RY FoR DRESSING SILK, FLAX, sw.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Batent No. 618,991, dated February 1899. Application led July 15,1898. Serial No. 686,024. (No model.)

To all whom, it may con/cern.-A

Beit known that I, ARTHUR MELLOR, a subject of the Queen of Great Britain, residing at Stanley Mount, Crompton road, Macclesfield, in the county of Chester, England, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Machinery for Dressing Silk, China-Grass, Flax, and Like Fibers; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make. and use the same.

My invention relates to apparatus on what is known as the flat-machine principle for dressing silk, china-grass, iiax, and like fibers, but more particularly silk.

The ordinary flat silk-dressing machine comprises a single endless sheet or belt carrying a series of combs and traveling horizontally around a pair of rollers. Heretofore the frame containing the boards of silk filling to be dressed has had .to be brought into position under the traveling belt of combs and then raised up vertically by the dresser to the proper height and adjusted to a nicety to bring the fibers into contact with the combs and give the depth of combing required. The adjustment of the filling-board frame with respect to the combs necessitates the exercise of great care and skill on the part of the dresser and takes up considerable time, as the frame must be lowered each time to reverse the fillings and then raised up again and readjusted for each separate dressing. This construction of silk-dressing machine restricts the output of workA The object of my invention is to give an extended and graduated range of dressing or a succession of dressings at one operation or in once passing through the machine and to automatically or mechanically feed the fillingboard frames forward horizontally through the machine to comb and dress the fibers, the productive capacity of the machine thus being largely increased and enabling cheaper and less labor to be employed in attending same.

My invention consists in the novel construction, operation, and combination of parts for the purpose above stated, as will be hereinafter fully described.

Referring to the drawings, Figure l is a lona portion of the first endless sheet of combs and some of the framework being broken away to show more clearly the manner of traversing the filling-board frame through the machine. end of the machine, lookingin the direction of arrow 2, Fig. 1. Fig. I is an enlarged longitudinal elevation, partly in section, of the delivery end of the machine, showing the apparatus for discharging the frame of fillingboards from the machine. Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional elevation taken on line 3 3 of Fig. 4. Fig. 6 isa plan of the discharging-platform. Fig. 7 is a plan of the filling-board frame and platform at the feeding end of ma- Fig. 3 is an elevation of the feedingv chine, showing in dotted lines the apparatus for raising the platform and frame to feed the latter to the machine.

The same letters and numerals refer to corresponding parts throughout.

In the accompanying drawings letters a d denote the side frames of the machine, above which are arranged in successive order one behind the other four endless belts or sheets b, c, d, and e, passing around rollers b b2, c' c2, d d2, and e e2, respectively, and having secured to their surfaces transverse bars of wood clothed with metallic teeth, the teeth on the belts b and c being long and forming combs b3 c3 and those on the belts d e being varied between short teeth or cards d3 e3 and lon g teeth or combs d4 e4, the number of cards cl3 e3 being in excess of the combs d4 e4, which are introduced after every second or third card.

The shafts of the several rollers are journaled in bearings in standards or brackets at each side of the machine, those standards denoted by letter f being bolted to the side frames a d, while those denoted by letter f are adapted to be-slid laterally in dovetailed grooves d ce in frames a a by screws g, which work through nuts g', fitted in sockets in said brackets, and are attached to brackets g2, bolted to the side frames a a. The screws g are provided with bosses or enlarged heads g3, having radial openings therein to receive pins or keys by which the screws are rotated IOO . in one direction or the other to adjust the brackets f' and the corresponding rollers for the purpose of taking up the slack lof the webbings or belts and maintaining them at the proper tension.

Whereas in the present silk-dressing machines the single belt or webbing, with combs attached, is arranged on a horizontal plane, in my improved machine the endless belts b c d e or, as shown in Fig. l, the belts Z) c e are arranged to incline slightly from front to rear, the front roller of each pair of belt-carrying rollers being raised a little higher than the rear roller, each of which is adapted to be adjusted vertically to the greatest nicety and to give the angles required by means of screwsfz, working through nuts in the top plate of the standards f f' and attached to sliding blocks f3, engaging the sides of slots 2o f4 in the said standards, the blocks f3 formfiber.

ing the bearings in which the belt-carrying rollers are journaled. The screws f2 are provided with hand-wheels f5 by which to actuate same. The endless belt d is shown horizontal in Fig. 1; but the arrangement of one ot' the belts horizontally or of each of them at an angle is a matter of judgment on the part of the skilled dresser, who can adjust each endless belt as he considers necessary to give the best results on the quality of fiber being dealt with.

The ends of the transverse bars of combs and cards and combs when the endless belts are traveling along under the rollers engage with and slide along side rails 7L 71 of which there are two to each endless belt, each rail being supported by and secured to brackets h', (of which only the central ones can be seen,) bolted to the side frames da. Each bracket is provided with a vertical slot, so that the said rails can be adjusted to the same angles as the endless belts. In half-circular bearings i', situated at intervals apart alongside the inner face of each frame a, are journaled or supported screws 'L' t', one of which is right-handed and the other left-handed, these screws extending under the endless belts b c d c from end to end of the machine. Into the spaces between the threads of the screws are adapted to enter and to be engaged by said threads projections orlugs j on each side ot` a rectangular frame j, comprising two cross-bars jz jz, secured rigidly together by square side boltsjsj3 and nuts 3'4, and which is similar to the frames at present employed for holding the boards filled with fillings of The filling-boards, consisting of two boards hinged together bookwise, as heretofore, are represented at 7c. The filling of silk from the filling-engine is placed between the pairs of boards and the latter closed, the projecting portion of filling being that which is to be dressed. These boards 7c are placed in the frame j intermediate of blocks 7o', which are recessed at their ends to fit on the square side bolts jjS, which support them and along which they can be slid. The filling-boards k rest on supports jf js, secured at each side of the frame j to lugs j, extending downward from the cross-barsj2 j?, and when a full complement of such boards has been placed into the framej they are firmly secured therein and nipped tightly between the blocks 7c' by means of screws 3'7'7'7, screwed through the rear cross-bar of the frame and actuated by handwheels jsjs. Secured to the under side of frame] is a central boss l, having an opening Z on its under side for the purpose hereinafter described.

Motion is imparted to the machine in manner following. The numeral 4 denotes the first-motion shaft, j ournaled in bearings in a bracket bolted to the framework a and having mounted thereon fast and loose pulleys 5 6. The said shaft is driven by strap 7, passing around the fast pulley, and communicates motion through pinion 8, fast on shaft 4, to a spur-wheel 9, secured on the extended end of the shaft of roller b2, which rotates said roller and traverses the endless belt b around the rollers 19'62 in the direction of the arrows. On the said roller-shaft is also secured a toothed gear 10, meshing with a toothed gear 11 on a stud-shaft 12, which carries a chainwheel 13, deriving motion through said toothed gear and communicating it by chain 14 to chain-wheel 15 on the shaft of roller c', whereby said roller is driven and traverses the endless belt c around rollers c c2 in the direction of the arrows-that is to say, in a contrary direction to the Iirst endless belt b. A second chain-wheel 16 conveys motion from the shaft of roller c by chain 17 to a chainwheel 18 on the shaft of roller cl, thus driving said roller and traversing the endless belt d around rollers cl d2 in the same direction as the endless belt c, as indicated by the arrows. From the shaft of roller d motion is transmitted by spur-wheels 19 2O to stud-shaft 2l, whereon is secured a chain-wheel 22, which by means of chain 23 gives rotary motion to a chain-wheel 24 on the shaft of IVOO IIO

roller e', thereby rotating said roller and traversing the endless belt e around the rollers e' e? ina contrary direction to the endless belts c d and in the same direction as the belt b, as indicated by arrows. A second chainwheel 25 is mounted on the shaft of roller e, which by chain 26 transmits rotary motion to a large chain-wheel 27, (see Fig. 4,) mounted on the end of a cross-shaft 28, supported in bearings at the rear or delivery end of the machine, and whereon are secured beveled wheels 29, (one only being shown,) which mesh with bevels fast on lthe ends of the screws 1171. The rotary motion given to the cross-shaft 28 rotates the screws t' t' at a very slow speed to traverse the frame j through the machine.

Intermediate of the two en dless belts (Z e and supported in brackets bolted to the frames c a is a roller m, clothed partially or wholly with ne teeth, or it may be covered with stiff bristles, such roller having a chainfrom the machine. When the frame j en gages the screws t' t' at the feeding end of the machine, it rests upon and slides along fixed ways n n, secured to the inner faces of the side frames a a just below the screws z' 'i'. These ways extend longitudinally from the -feeding to the delivery end of the machine, terminating close to a movable platform o, forming a continuation of said ways and of sufficient size to hold the whole of frame y'. The platform o is three-sided, one side being omitted to admit of the withdrawal of the frame j therefrom, while the side nearest the machine is bent or U-shaped to give sufficient clearance for the depth of frame j to allow it to pass onto the platform. Into openings formed through each corner of the platform o enter the ends of pillars or spindles o', secured to the base of the machine or to the floor. Surrounding said spindles are strong spiral springs o2, confined between the under side of the platform o and collars o3, secured on the pillars, the combined force or resistance to compression of said springs being rather less than the Weight of framej and platform 0 together, in order that when the frame is wholly on the platform and the latter released they'will descend gently against the resistance of the springs. At the delivery end of the machine and at right angles thereto are laid lines p, whereon is adapted to be propelled a carriage q, which prior to discharging a frame from the machine is wheeled under the platform o and into abutment with a stoppiece q' or stop-pieces, which determine its position centrally of the platform o or framej. The platform ois held in its-highest positionthat is, level with the ways n 1t-by sliding bolts, of which one only is shown atr in Fig. 4, these entering recesses 04 in the rear side of the platform and engaging with the under side of said platform. When the frame j is traversed by the screws t' 11 fullyvonto the platform o, las shown at Fig. 4, the end of the frame abuts against the end of each bolt r and forces it clear of the platform, as shown, whereupon the platform, with the frame j thereon, descends until arrested by the stud q2, secured to the top of the carriage q in the center thereof, which enters the opening Z in the boss Z on the frame and supports the'frame in the position shown in-dotted line in Fig. 4. The carriage is now wheeled fromunder the machine in the direction of the arrow 33, Fig. 5, thus withdrawing the frame from the platform o, which is thereupon forced back to its normal position by the extension of the springs o2. Each bolt r on the platform o falling clear thereof is forced back to its original position by spring r', and on the platform being returned to its highest position it bears against the inclined end of each bolt and forces l them back until it is level with the ways 'n n,

when' the bolts are shot forward by the springs r' and rengage the under side of the platform. At the feeding end of the machine there is a similar platform s, Fig. 7, adapted to slide up and down on pillars, as in the case of platform o. This said platform s is suspended from the ends of four chains s s2 s3 s4, represented by strong broken lines, which are attached to winding pulleys or drums t' t2 t3 t4, fast on a side shaft t, the chains s3 s4 passing over the'- feeding end of the machine and around guide-pulleys 155256 to theopposite side of the platform. The shaft is provided with a handle t7, by which to rotateit to wind up or lower the platform.

The action of the machine is as follows: The boards k, containing the silk filling, which is inserted between each pair of boardsin the ordinary way, having beenplaced in the frame; and nipped tightly together by the action of the screws 7'7 47, the said frame is conveyed by a carriage in all respects similar to carriage q onto the platform s, which has been lowered to receive it. The said platform, with the frame j thereon, is now raised until the frame is brought level with the ways n n, and the lugsj being engaged by the threads of screws fi z' the frame commences to travel endwise into the machine in the direction of arrow 34, graduallyleavn g the platform s and sliding on the ways n n, upon which it is finally supported. As the fibers projecting from the boards lo come into contact with thecombs b3 on the endless belt b, which are traveling in the same direction, but at a quicker speed, they are laid hold of by said combs and drawn through them, thereby combing them thoroughly on one side in traveling the length of the belt b. As the combs are farther away from the frame j at the front end than at the rear end of the belt b, the silk filling is more gradually and gently combed and dressed than would be the case if the combs traveled in a horizontal plane, and consequently they do not damage or injure the fibers. The fibers removed from the fillings by the combs b3 are pressed down to the base of the combs by a brush u, secured IOO.

IIO

at each end to brackets bolted to the side standards supporting roller b2. Each projecting tuft of filling in the frame j'in passing clear of the combs b3 is naturally elevated or drawn over by suchV combs ask they travel around the bend of roller b2, and therefore when such projecting fibers reach the endless belt c, which is traveling -in the contrary direction, the combs c3 thereon lay hold of the IZO the endless belt c to the endless belt d, and they therefore pass forward and are met by and drawn through the cards d3 on said belt, such cards removing the nibs7 or rough places or bits in or on the dressed or combed bers. The carding of the bers for this purpose is preferably relieved at intervals by the introduction of the combs d4 on belt cl, which also serve to remove any loose bers remaining in the dressed llings or turned up by the cards, the same also applying in the case of endless belt e. On passing from belt d the tufts of lling are turned over or reversed by the rotary action of the clothed roller min order that the cards e3 on belt e may act uponr the bers from the opposite sides to card and remove the nibs or rough places missed by the cards d3.

By the employment of two sets of endless combs and two sets of endless cards arranged as described and in successive order to follow one upon another and by traveling the llings of ber to be dressed horizontally under and in contact with said combing and carding surfaces a complete dressing is given' to the bers in once passing through the machine and a much larger quantity than heretofore can thus be dealt with and continuously fed to the machine, whereby the productive capacity of at silk-dressing machines is considerably increased. i Cheap or unskilled labor can be more largely employed to mind the machine and very little noil or waste is made.

'When the frame j has been traversed beyond the belt e and fully onto the discharging-platform o, the latter is released and deposits said frame on the carriage q, as before described, such carriage then being wheeled away on the lines p to a second machine arranged alongside the one described, but the opposite way about, so that the frame j can be conveyed straight acrossfrom the delivery end of one machine to the feeding end of the other. The llings of ber are reversed, as ordinarily, to present the uncombed or undressed port-ion to the combs and cards after the rst half has been sufciently dressed.

The stud q' on the carriage q admits of the frame j being turned around thereon in transit from one machine to another ready for presentation to the second machine.

Vhat I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a ber-dressing machine, the combination, with a supporting-frame, a pair of rollers, an endless traveling belt or web, and transverse bars carried by the said belt and provided with dressing devices; of means for elevating one of the said rollers thereby placing the belt at an angle, rails 71, carried by the said frame and supporting all the bars on onehalf of the belt, means for setting the said rails at an angle corresponding to that of the belt, horizontal guides, a frame for holding the lling-boards, and traversing mechanism for moving the said frame along the said guides in contact with the dressing devices, substantially as set forth.

2. In a ber-dressing machine, the combination, with longitudinal guides, means for dressing the ber, lling-boards for holding the ber, and a frame for holding the llingboards slidable on said guides; of a springsupported platform arranged at one end of the said guides, and locking devices normally preventing the said platform from descending when the frame rst passes onto it, substantially as set forth.

3. In a ber-dressing machine, the combination, withlongitudinal guides, means for dressing the ber, lling-boards for holding the ber, and a frame for holding the llingboards slidable on the said guides; of a springsupported platform arranged at one end of the said guides, retractible spring-pressed locking devices normally preventing the said platform from descending when the frame rst passes onto it, and means for retracting the said locking devices automatically when the frame arrives at the termination of its longitudinal movement thereby permitting the said frame and platform to descend automatically, substantially as set forth.

4. The combination, with a movable frame for holding the lling-boards, said frame being lprovided with clamping devices for the boards and means for engaging With the longitudinal traversing mechanism of a berdressing machine; of a traveling carriage for conveying the said frame to and from the said machine, means for lowering the said frame onto the said carriage, and a pivot arranged between the said frame and carriage and supporting the said frame when lowered onto the said carriage and permitting it to be revolved thereon, substantially as set forth.

5. The combination, with a series of endless traveling belts of combs and cards arranged in successive order and some or all at slight angles to the horizontal or line of traverse of the bers and means for traversing the fillings of ber horizontally through the machine in contact with the` combing and then with the carding surfaces, of means for pressing the bers combed out of the llings down to the base or roots of the combs, and for reversing the llings or tufts in passing from one endless belt of cards to another to present the opposite side of such tufts to the second carding-surface all arranged, operating and being operated in the manner and by the means substantially as herein shown and described.

In testimony whereof I afXmy signature in presence of two witnesses.

ARTHUR MELLOR. Witnesses:

JOSEPH BEAUMONT, HARRY EDWARD MowBRAY.

IOO

IIO 

